(Media by Encre @dearencre on Trumblr)

P.O.V: Master

I hate myself so much.... Everything I do always goes wrong.... I can never do anything without something going wrong... I know that what is done is done, and I am only feeling sorry for myself.... I can't help but think that if I hadn't been there, all this wouldn't have happened... Nothing... If my existence.... I-

- Master !!

I looked up with a start at the agreement of my "name" and saw the only person who could call me that.

- E-Encre ??

- I'm relieved you're fine !

- That's for me to say ! Encre I thought I'd never see you again !

- A master... He's a child !

Looking at the last voice that spoke, I quickly moved away and tightened my grip on Encre's arm.

- It's all right, don't worry !

- But Encre ! It's the prince !

- And ? He's above all a friend ! He's helping us get you out of here !

- What ?!

- Encre is right, I'm not your enemy. Besides, I should find the keys on this side, I'll be right back.

- Thank you, Wren. And in the meantime, Master, I will explain to you what you'll have to do. Do you agree to help me ?

- As if I had a choice ! You have a plan, I suppose ?

- Yes, I'll explain your role in all this.

P.O.V: Fallacy

Well, we should be there in a little while. The guard is much denser, which confirms to me that we are well on the right track. But more security means more vigilance. I was passing my cape over the smallest one, so that we wouldn't spot it right away.

- Loop, stay on your toes. Don't forget where we are.

- Good !

He put himself behind my leg to hide better without preventing me from moving. I was looking for a simple way to cross the ramparts in complete discretion but in vain. They were too well guarded and no entrances were located along the wall. I bit my lower lip with frustration when I heard a rustling sound in the nearby bushes. Loop clung to me while I was on guard.

- How's there. Show yourself immediately ! The being came out. It was a young black skeleton with similarities to Jasper.

- Oh, come on, let's calm down the marrow, I'm not a stray dog !

As I was about to retaliate, Loop came out of my cape and seemed to smile.

- You are my friend's master ! I recognize you !

- Master ??

- Oh ? And you're the kid from the market ! It means that....

He looked at me for a long time and then had a sigh just as tired.

- You must be Fallacy, I suppose ?

- And you are ?

- My name is PaperCut but I prefer Paper. I am the "master" of Encre.

The last word made me feel like a click and he had no time to say anything else, that I had just pined him against a tree holding him by the throat.

- Where is he !!

- Calm down, I said !! Gnh... Let go of me !!

- No, don't hurt him ! Please, he's not our enemy !!

Loop was pulling my cape with begging eyes. Seeing that I had just acted without thinking, I challenged my grip by moving away.

- Kof kof.... You have a hell of a grasp, man...

- Are you all right ? He couldn't have known....

- I know I know.... All right ! I'll explain everything, but not here. Come on, let's go someplace safer.

Seeing that I kept looking towards the castle, Paper added an information that caught my attention.

- I have an important message from Encre. Shall we go ?

- We're following you.

Some time later, we landed on a large rock. Personally, I stood upright, leaning against a tree. He would quickly explain to us what had happened since the first day he met Encre, until he was released from prison.

- And what is this plan ?

- It was to meet you and then follow you home, to your castle.

- Excuse me ?! I would never go home without him !

- Maybe, but that's what he wants. In a short time, a ball will be held in honour of the future spouses, and many kingdoms will be invited. The prince will make sure that you too receive an invitation and so you can enter without having to play the discreet ninja in the castle.

- I understand. Encre offers me an opportunity to be able to join him safely....

- In a way, yes. But don't get too excited too fast ! It's a way for you to locate the place and not take it with you ! Encre will certainly not be able to leave that evening !

- And why is that ?

- I told you, it's a ball in honor of the future spouses !

- So what ? Who are these spouses ?

- Tss.... I wanted to avoid that question, but I might as well tell you right away instead of at the ball.

He took an inspiration and said in a voice that he wanted to be neutral.

- Encre is promised to the prince of this country. Prince Wren.

- What ?! There is no way !! I will never tolerate it, never !!

- But will you calm down at the end ? Enough with the loud voices coming out of nowhere ! I don't want a headache !

- Why is it Encre in particular that the prince must marry ? Why in all the people who exist, does it have to be him ?

- Because of his tattoos. Or rather his birth marks on his bones. But I guess you've never seen them before if you ask the question.

- No. But if these marks are the ones they are looking for, I agree to follow Encre's instructions. After all, this is all about him better than anyone else, and he must know what he's doing.

Loop grabbed two of my fingers from his little bony hand when he looked at me with his big eyes.

- Does that mean we're going to turn back ?

- I'm afraid so....

All these efforts will have at least not been of any use. Let's go home and get ready to face it.

- Let's go home.

P.O.V: Encre

We had been walking for almost 2 hours between the houses while hiding. We looked through the windows of some of the houses and visited the place.

- So ? What do you think of your kingdom ? It's only an a priori but it's enough to see the whole thing I guess...

- It's.... Both surprising in a good way and disappointing... I... My father rules over our people in such a way... I'm quite disappointed... All these people who dominate and others who submit for their own survival... They are so badly treated that I would never have imagined a world like this...

- That's why we have to do something... We can't leave a kingdom in this state ! The inhabitants will even look all the way to the next kingdom to find submissives !

- Encre... Can we go home now ? I've seen enough...

- I understand... Let's go home then.

When he came home, Wren seemed troubled by what he had just discovered. I feel pretty guilty and sorry, but I had to. I couldn't leave things like that ! Wren sat on the bed.

- Encre...

- Yes ?

- Why... How can you care so much about a kingdom that's not yours ? A kingdom that has also hurt you ?

I smiled at that question and came to sit next to him.

- It's simple. Because he doesn't deserve it ! There are bad people and good people everywhere. Good and evil are what create a world. I just think it's fair that your kingdom is leaning more to one side than the other. I am neither king nor even justice itself ! But I would just like to... Do something to help. I don't like to know a place in trouble when I could do something. I'm just a simple artist from a small human village with no stories... But I don't like injustice. I've seen so many since I was a child and I've never been able to do anything or even think about helping... Besides, it's your kingdom, Wren. And you're my friend. Master and Suave also live here. That's why I just want to help the people I care about ! Even if I could be useless at the end... I would like to have in mind that I would at least have tried.

He looked at me with a stunned area that gradually changed into a discreet smile.

- You have a big heart Encre. I'm happy to have a friend like you...

I laughed a little and then went to lie under the sheet. We didn't have much sleep left but that should be enough. I also hope that Master is well.... And that he managed to find Fallacy... The next morning, Wren was no longer there as usual for these classes. I joined Suave in the living room for breakfast and then we spent time together. We got to know each other better and learn more about each other. Suave is a human raised by vampires since birth. He had been received by a family unable to have children. But one day, guards arrived for an annual inspection. The family always hid the child in a trapdoor on the floor except that one day they arrived rather than expected, surprising them. The woman had tried as best she could to hide him while the man held the guards, but a new one was smarter. He looked inside the house and saw them. He was Flin's older brother. The family was arrested and the parents put to death. Suave was far too young. From the top of his 3 years, he was recovered by the king as a servant for household chores and to occupy his son. Since then, he has been living at the castle. He's only two years behind Jasper, I think he might get along fine !

- Tell me Suave, if you had the opportunity to leave this place... What would you choose ? Stay or leave ?

- Well... Having almost always lived here, I don't know what to think... But if something or someone convinces me to leave, then yes. If I have the opportunity to leave, I will.

- I see !

I smile at him. I hope things will get better.... They deserve so much better...

- Sir, you know about the ball..... It's a masked ball and you might not be able to recognize your soul mate...

I took shades of color according to the agreement of the soul mate word.

- Don't worry about it ! He'll know how to recognize me and then even if I don't recognize him myself, he'll know how to let me know !

- You seem to have complete confidence in him.

- That's right ! I only recently met him but I have the feeling that I can share everything with him and that I don't have to worry... When I got lost in the forest and met Master, I didn't doubt for a second that he would come ! I knew it and it was this feeling that kept me confident.

He smiled at me and left the room where we had previously been for his cleaning.

- Oh, but I have to bother you for always imposing my presence on you at work !

- No, on the contrary. It's nice to have company other than Fleur !

- It's true that she doesn't look very convenient...

- Yes, but she still has a good heart ! She didn't have an easy childhood.

- I understand.

- SUAVE !!

- Speak of the devil.... We turned around and saw the fury rushing into the hallway.

- Yes Fleur ?

- CAN I ASK WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE, YOU WORTHLESS BASTARD ?!

- He came to my room with me because I wanted to ask him something.

- O-oh ! Sir Encre... I apologize for my insolence, I didn't see you... Suave was supposed to help in the kitchen but when I saw Muffy working alone, I thought he was cracking as usual...

- Oh, yes, I'm really sorry ! It had slipped my mind... I am sincerely sorry about that...

- It's nothing Suave after all your hard work, I'd ask the prince if he can give you a day off !

Both Fleur and Suave were surprised and the young woman seemed to be staring at him.

- My lord, it's very kind of you, but I'm fine, don't worry !

- Yes, but I want to ! And then you can rest and have a cup of tea with me for once !

- If it's forbidden for a simple servant to drink tea !

- Not if I'm the one asking you to ! Fleur ?

- Ye-yes, sir ?

- Take a rest too, it'll do you good.

She didn't know what to say and nodded a simple thank you of embarrassment. She went back on her way in the opposite direction and we both continued on our way.

- Thank you very much Sir.... But you know, I really don't think that's necessary.

- I insist ! You might think it's pretty selfish, but I'm bored alone in this big castle...

- Don't you draw or paint ?

- So much, but I have already drawn everything I could draw, whether it is inside the castle or what you can see from the ramparts.... Even the guards have all been drawn !

- If it makes you happy, you can draw me. Unless it's too pretentious of me...

- It would be a pleasure ! Come on, I must have two or three paintings left !

When I arrived in the room, I took my instruments directly to paint and settled on the edge of the bed. Suave sat in the chair in the office across the street and wasn't sure what to pose for. I advised him to simply put himself in a normal position and if he didn't know which expression to use, he could have his eyes in the dark. The chair was facing me. He had his pelvis facing away and his chest turned to my left. His left elbow was placed on the back of the chair while his other hand was placed on his right thigh. The face in profile, he had a thoughtful, distant expression. I took some pretty soft colors at first, then added darker touches to make a memory effect and breeze. The painting seemed to have captured the moment, the movement and the atmosphere. I was about to do the last finishing touches when he had a thin smile on his face. I wondered what he was thinking and thought it looked so good that I couldn't help but draw it.

- There you go, finished !

- May I see ?

- Of course !

I turned the painting around to present it to him.

- That's wonderful, Sir... I feel like I'm seeing my self in a mirror !

- I'm glad you like it !

- But tell me... Why do I have a smile ?

- Because you had a smile on your face towards the end and I found it so much in harmony with the rest that I added it. You don't like it ?

- Yes, it is ! This makes it even more beautiful !

- Glad you like it ! But tell me, what were you thinking about smiling like that ?

- Oh nothing nothing, my lord !

- Mmmm.

- Sir... I assure you...

- ...Well, we should get going, lunch should be here soon.

- You're right, but where are you going to leave the painting ?

- On the desk !

- In plain sight ?! Sir, you should not... I'm just a simple servant, you know !

- Stop saying you're just a simple servant ! You're my friend first and foremost.

- Sir...

- Encre. When we're together, I want you to call me Encre.

He sighed with a smile and got up.

- Very well Encre... Sir Wren must be looking for you right now !

- Surelly !

I dropped off the painting and we left the room. The preparations for the ball should not be long in coming. Fallacy... I can't wait to see you again.

~•°•~

A rather calm chap.... Don't you think so ? Heh Sorry if I take even longer to write but with the exams and all that it's pretty hard XD

Loop in this story is like the media ! Encre had invented this character without publishing it anywhere and she agreed to design it for me for this story !!

This is its original appearance:

(Yes the images are similar because she had done Loop only in paper version and when she went digital, she did my version at the same time ! Like another AU !)

I hope you still like the story and I say bye bye ! Christmas is over and we are now in 2019 ! I hope you all had a good holiday !!

See ya~